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Author: Saratoga TODAY

Adirondack Experience To Open For 2024 Season

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

BLUE MOUNTAIN LAKE — Adirondack Experience (ADKX) will open on May 24 for the 2024 season, inspiring visitors to learn and connect with all-things Adirondack, past and present. 

In addition to its expansive list of ongoing daily offerings, several new works of art – including, Cosmic Portal, a complex sculptural piece that measures 9’ by 6’ – will be on display in Artists & Inspiration in the Wild, which debuted in July 2023. 

 This year also marks the 100th anniversary of the completion of the Northville-Placid Trail (NPT), a 138-mile route that transverses Adirondack Park. To honor this milestone, the museum will launch its newest special exhibition, Trail Makers: 100 Years of the Northville-Placid Trail and offer daily programming and opportunities to connect hikers, history buffs, and those who simply treasure the region to come together to mark this anniversary in a personal way. 

 ADKX will also introduce Tuesday Trail Talks & Tours, a new monthly series to learn about the people who hike, maintain, and work to preserve the Northville-Placid Trail today. In addition to new and refreshed exhibits, the museum’s most popular festivals, such as Celebrate Akwesasne, Adirondack Artisan Festival, Mushroom Mania, the Rustic Fair, Xperience for All, and FallFest will also return this year. 

 For additional information, call 518-352-7311 or visit www.theADKX.org.

Annual Wildlife Festival at Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park June 2

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

 

WILTON — Wilton Wildlife will be hosting its Annual Wildlife Festival at the Historic Camp Saratoga on Scout Road in Wilton from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Sunday, June 2. 

The free event will feature Karner blue butterfly information, lupine planting, food trucks, live animals, nature crafts, face painting, pond exploration, and hands-on fun. The event is timed to enjoy the beauty of the first brood of Karner blue butterflies and the blooming wild blue lupine. Activities will take place throughout Camp Saratoga to encourage people to explore the wonderful trail system, since the Wildlife Festival is a registered National Trails Day event. 

During the festival, native raptors will be presented by the Trish Marki of Silent Wings, sponsored by Ballston Spa National Bank. There will be live turtles at the turtle discovery table. 

There will be lupine planting and a Karner blue butterfly information table to help visitors learn about the Saratoga Sand Plains Habitat Restoration area. Educators from Wilton Wildlife will share information about the efforts that New York State DEC and The Nature Conservancy have made in improving and increasing the habitat for this endangered species. 

There will be numerous craft activities taking place in locations around Camp Saratoga. 

The Wildlife Festival will take place rain or shine with many of the activities moving under cover of Camp Saratoga’s many pavilions, the dining hall and the Winter Lodge in case of rainy weather. Organizers encourage people to carpool, bike, blade, walk, or share rides with others since parking is limited.

For more information, call the Wilton Wildlife office at 518-450-0321 or email info@wiltonpreserve.org

Lewis E. Bent

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Obituaries.

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EASTON, NY— Lewis E. Bent, 89, was born on July 29, 1934, and passed away on May 14, 2024. Lewie was born, raised, and lived in Vermont for a number of years and later moved to his longtime home in Corinth. Lewie had many talents, and he was able to work in a variety of fields. He was a combat medic in Korea, a farmer, a logger, and a trucker, to name a few.  His favorite job was cross-country trucking with his co-driver and wife Mary. Together they traveled the county in their big rig and shared the wild tales of their life on the road with everyone. 

Lewie was known for his colorful personality and quick wit. One of his favorite sayings was “if you can’t joke and fool then life ain’t worth livin’ .”  He loved the outdoors and could tell you how to save a hive of honeybees, tame a squirrel, plant a tree, or catch a fish. He also loved a good party, a cold beer, and two fingers of Black Velvet with ginger ale. He was known for steaming hundreds of clams for the many people who attended his annual Labor Day party on the Mountain. He also loved his family and was proud of each one of them.

Lewie was predeceased by his wife Mary, his sons Mike Bent and David Gregorek, his granddaughter Kristen Gregorek, and his mother Louise Bent. He was also the last of his siblings to be born and the last to pass.  Lewie leaves behind his nine remaining children whom he loved, whether they were his by birth or marriage. He will also be remembered by his family “in-law” which included daughters and sons, sisters and brothers, and so many others. Lewie had so many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews who will surely carry fond and fun memories of him through their lives.

The family is planning a private service. Anyone who wishes to memorialize Lewie may do so by sending a donation to, The Community Hospice Foundation, 310 S. Manning Blvd., Albany, NY 12208 or on their website https://www.communityhospice.org/donate

For online condolences, visit www.compassionatefuneralcare.com

Annual Wildlife Festival at Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park June 2

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

WILTON — Wilton Wildlife will be hosting its Annual Wildlife Festival at the Historic Camp Saratoga on Scout Road in Wilton from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Sunday, June 2. 

The free event will feature Karner blue butterfly information, lupine planting, food trucks, live animals, nature crafts, face painting, pond exploration, and hands-on fun. The event is timed to enjoy the beauty of the first brood of Karner blue butterflies and the blooming wild blue lupine. Activities will take place throughout Camp Saratoga to encourage people to explore the wonderful trail system, since the Wildlife Festival is a registered National Trails Day event. 

During the festival, native raptors will be presented by the Trish Marki of Silent Wings, sponsored by Ballston Spa National Bank. There will be live turtles at the turtle discovery table. 

There will be lupine planting and a Karner blue butterfly information table to help visitors learn about the Saratoga Sand Plains Habitat Restoration area. Educators from Wilton Wildlife will share information about the efforts that New York State DEC and The Nature Conservancy have made in improving and increasing the habitat for this endangered species. 

There will be numerous craft activities taking place in locations around Camp Saratoga. 

The Wildlife Festival will take place rain or shine with many of the activities moving under cover of Camp Saratoga’s many pavilions, the dining hall and the Winter Lodge in case of rainy weather. Organizers encourage people to carpool, bike, blade, walk, or share rides with others since parking is limited.

For more information, call the Wilton Wildlife office at 518-450-0321 or email info@wiltonpreserve.org

“Saratoga Naturally” – Photographic Images on Exhibit at Thirsty Owl

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

SARATOGA SPRINGS— A new exhibition featuring photographic images of Saratoga is on exhibit at The Thirsty Owl Bistro, 184 S. Broadway. 

The exhibition, “Saratoga Naturally: Photographic Images of Saratoga’s Most Beautiful Parks & Preserves,” is created by self-published author-photographer and Saratoga Springs resident Louis Valenti. 

Photographic images on display include: Saratoga Spa State Park; Colonel William F. Fox Memorial Saratoga Tree Nursery; Geyser Creek Trail; Bog Meadow Brook Nature Trail; and the Saratoga National Historical Park and Battlefield. 

The event is open to the public and free of charge Monday through Sunday, 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. and will be on display through Sunday, June 15.

Commissioner Sanghvi: More Problems In IT

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Saratoga Springs Politics.

Never shy, former Saratoga Springs Mayor Ron Kim issued a press release on October 18, 2023, touting a new software package to archive text messages from city phones. On February 22, 2024, Finance Commissioner Minita Sanghvi went to the media (WRGB) to tout the program’s implementation to capture texts from city officials’ phones. As of today, May 20, 2024, Commissioner Sangvi, the project manager, still has not deployed this software, wasting over $6,000 of the public’s money.

Readers will remember that Sanghvi has repeatedly alleged(as she suggests again in this news clip) that past elected officials had somehow tampered with their phones in response to the Attorney General’s investigation regarding the Saratoga Springs Police Department even though there has never been any evidence of this happening. Former Mayor Kim, Sanghvi, and Accounts Commissioner Dillon Moran frequently maintained there was an urgent need to archive text messages sent by city officials.

The contract with the winning proposal from SMARSH was signed on October 17, 2023, for $12,942.12. According to the contract, it would take effect the day it was approved. For some reason, Sanghvi waited until February to get approval for the archiving policies, and even then, the software was not deployed.

As of today, the archive software has not yet been implemented. By my calculations, Sanghvi has been unable to implement the software for seven months. It has been three months since she told WRGB it had been implemented.

It is true that the head of IT who Sanghvi hired quit months ago during this period . The Police Department’s IT specialist has been filling in as Sanghvi still has not hired a replacement. All reports attest to his skills, but the IT department needs a full-time head. This disruption in leadership of the department should have made little difference, however. The SMARSH software is web-based. After a few configuration entries, the software simply requires the telephone numbers to be tracked. SMARSH has an agreement with Verizon to capture all incoming and outgoing texts in real-time. All this should have been done months ago.

I leave it to the reader to consider why Sanghvi told WRGB that she had implemented this software when she spoke to them in February and why it has taken so long and still not been implemented. It is also unclear why she has been unable to fill the IT director position.

Greenfield Hosting Sunset Yoga Program and Workout Party

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Sports.

GREENFIELD — The Town of Greenfield Recreation Department is adding exercise classes for its residents for the first time. The town is sponsoring outdoor “Sunset Yoga” at its Middle Grove Park, and a special “Barre-TY Party” event for ladies at Pure Barre in Saratoga Springs.

Sunset Yoga is open to adults and costs $10 per person. Participants should bring both a blanket and a yoga mat. The program will hold classes at Middle Grove Town Park, 428 Middle Grove Rd. from 7-8 p.m. on May 21, June 6, June 13, June 20, and June 27. Classes will be led by yoga teacher Jilly Sansone.

The “Barre-TY Party” will be held on June 9 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Pure Barre at 56 Marion Ave in Saratoga. Registration links can be found at www.greenfieldny.org to reserve a spot. The cost is $15 for residents and $18 for non-residents. The fee includes a full-body workout class, champagne, light bites, and discounts at the boutique and on future membership.

“We’ve been building community spirit and giving people a chance to try something new,” said Recreation Director Jen Zeisler in a statement. “These programs create fun activities for us all to come together no matter our background or ages.”

Skidmore Competes in NCAA Women’s Tennis Tournament

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Sports.

AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS — The Skidmore College women’s tennis team competed in the NCAA Division III Tournament last week after winning their 13th consecutive Liberty League championship. It was Skidmore’s 17th straight and 27th overall appearance in the tournament.

Heading into their first round matchup against Baruch College, the team was ranked 32nd nationally. They easily defeated their competitors in a 5-0 shutout. In the second round, Skidmore fell to 8th seed Amherst College, 5-0.

All told, the Thoroughbreds finished the season tied for 17th nationally, with a 13-6 record.

The last time Skidmore won an NCAA championship was in 1998. 

Ann K. Gregg (LeVay)

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Obituaries.

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SARATOGA SPRINGS – Ann K. Gregg (LeVay) was born on May 26, 1932 in New York City and passed on May 14, 2024, surrounded by her family who loved her and whom she loved so much. Ann was raised in Woodhaven, NY. She worked in NYC as a secretary until she started her family. Ann married John J. Gregg (Jack) on September 29, 1957. They moved to Saratoga Springs with their family in 1971. They were happily married for 39 years until Jack’s death in 1996. Ann was known for her kind heart and generous spirit and was always willing to help people in need and always rooting for the underdog. Ann believed in living a simple life, enjoying family and friends and all the small blessings. Ann considered her friends a blessing in her life. People loved her honest assessments, her no nonsense approach to life and her good humor and ability to laugh, especially at herself.

Ann was very dedicated to her family. She was generous with her time, watching her grandchildren when they were young, and she took great joy in their successes. Ann is predeceased by her husband, John J. Gregg, and her brother Henry LeVay and her beloved niece Stephanie Freeman. She is survived by her daughters Theresa A. Capozzola (Peter) and Susan A. Pfau (Robert), grandchildren John G. Capozzola, Christopher M. Capozzola, Jane Pfau and Jack Pfau, her brother James LeVay, her sister Theresa Higgins, nephew Robert Freeman, and many cherished friends.

Relatives and friends are invited to call from 4 – 6 p.m. on Monday, May 20, at the William J Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Home, 628 N. Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. A Mass of Chrisitan Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, May 21 at 11 a.m. in St. Clement’s Church, 231 Lake Ave., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 followed by burial in Pine View Cemetery 21 Quaker Rd. Queensbury, NY 12804. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Community Hospice of Saratoga: 179 Lawrence St. Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com